Feeding apparatus for manure spreading vehicles



F. LEE

FEEDING APPARATUS FOR MANURE SPREADING VEHICLES Filed Nov. B, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 16, 1954 F, LEE 2,672,058

FEEDING APPARATUS FOR MANURE SPREADING VEHICLES Filed NOV. 8, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor FRAN als L EE By Patented Mar. 16, 1954 FEEDING APBARATUS FOR. SPREADING VEHICLES.`

Francis Leer Stretford, England, assigner to'.

Massey-Harris Limited, Stretford; Eng,landf a body corporate; of' Great Britain.

Application .November s, 195o,- seriaiNoii-'sr-rs;

6 Claims;

' l This invention relates to* improvements in apron chain feeds for agricultural machines for spreading manure of the type in which an apron vtraverses the door of the vehicle to transfer' the manure from the front thereof towards the rear to be picked.v up by rotary paddles or spreaders.

The objectr of the invention is to providel an adjustable driveY for the apron in which the cam roller remains in contact with the cam throughout its rotation the feed being varied by altering the effective stroke ofthev lever actuated by the roller.

According to the invention the apron is driven intermittentlyv byV a pairY of spring connected pvivoted levers operatingV4 aratchet and pawl mechanism, the rstleverbeing rocked by a roller arm engaging a three lobedv cam driven b y the road wheels, and actua-ting" the second lever through a slide pivoted to one end of the rst lever and'engaging a'stopY on a bar pivoted to the second lever.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of theA apron driv Fig. 2 is a perspective view of same,

yin pairs bolted together theme'mbers ofeach Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the levers and control rod setV for maximum feed of the apron, Y

Fige is a similar diagrammatic'view showing the levers and control rod set fora reduced feed er the apron.

Twoendless chains -I connected by,1 anglebars 2 formingvthe apron-travel along'the bottom orloor oi the trailer D. The chains pass overa chain sprocket il at the forward end-of the tra-iler and over a chain sprocket 7 at-thetail end driven intermittently byv a multi-lobed'cam 3 mounted on aspindle 4 driven from the road Vwheels which may be also mounted-on they spindle 4. A roller 8 mounted on arms v9 engages the cam-V track on the cam 3'. The arms 9arebolted between two levers I9 connected together and-pivoted tothe b'odyof the trailer D by a'bolt |01, the levers I0 carrying at their upper end a slidefI i sliding ona bar I 2. The opposite end of the barI 2 is pivotally connected to a second lever I3 pivoted onY a spindle I4 on which is'keyed aV ratchet wheel 6 andthe chain sprocket 1. A stop 2:3 slidable on bar=l2abuts against coilspri'ng 24. The other end of coil spring 24 is connected withlever means I3. The leversy I9, I 3 are alsoconnected hva-spring/IS, one'end of which 'is' securedto the lower end of thelever III-and the--other-end^to the vuppervportion of the lever- I3, to maintainthe rol1er-r8gin--contact with-thel cam track.' The leverss I-: I3 arestrengthenedeby-fbeing'crmed Vpair being on opposite` siel'esfof' the rollerd and theratchet wheel 6 respectively;

Asthe cam rotates the roller rrri'ses: and'lffalls and transmits motion to the upper end.- of' the lever i0 which actuateswthelever I3 througlfrY the coil spring 2l= by engagingl stop. 26:' with slide member Il. A. pawli 5 is\ mounted"` on'. the. lever I3, engaging the ratchetawheellllandtbywhiclrit is intermittently'rotated as .then cam. 3.: rotates.:

v A similar pawl I6 mayA be mounted on: the trailer D to prevent. theratchet. wheel frcm movingl in the reverse; direction..

The lever Iil is pivoted at; its. lower. end; to a sleeve or collar 20 capable of vsliding'oni a1- control rod' 2?: actuated byal ratchet;handle.y Ii avena quadrant or otherwise., Movementfiofthecontrol rod il in. the direction; of: the. arrow Fig. 11. to hring a stop laonthemcdz I'IF.` into engagement withthe collar Eil raisesgtheiroller- 3. outtof engagement with the; camiilf when. the apron. is: not required toA travel.4

The control, rod.: lil'. also.: passesi through. aJ guide sleeve. or. collar: 22A pivoted.. on1 the.: lower. end-l of thelever: I3. Ai secondi" stop 1:91/ is: provided-.on the rod. I 'l by whichthastrokei off. the; bar I2 y'may be set asshow-n inFi'g. aiandzto prevent therod I-lf from. being' withdrawn. fromthe.; sleeve; or collar 22.

. To-set; the lever; I8. for; maximum/stroke the sleeve or collar 225is. movedralongthe.- control-.rod Il, with the roller 8? on ohefofzthe:10westportions of the cam 3, toallow thestop. 241 ontheirocl ito engage-the slide; i i. The-stop; Iii;1V is thenibrought into contact with thersleevefvZQias shown irrrig- 1 and; locked toY the rod il'nby `set .screws orv otherwise. The levers wand I3 will remain substantially; parallel' on the. rotation oithe cam, to actuatethe bar I2` to rotate-theratchet wheel f5. In crderto reduce the .stroke of the=bar I2vv to lessen thefieed of.v the ratchet wheel-.5, thecontrol rodv I'i is-.mo-ved int thefdireetionfof the :arrow Figi, 1*, to bringgt'he step; EQ2- towards. the front .of the vehicle -to restrict` the. rearward .movement of the lever Ietherebyfaliowingthesleeve IfI -to move away fromv the stop. 2li-1 underV the v action of thespring i5 whilst the; roller 8 remainsin contactwith the cam' 3: As:thefcamrotatesthe slide ilv moves up the bar I2 untilY it :engages with the stop 241 yand then.movestherrod i Las. above described to. rotateV the fratchet wheel. liA butto, .a lesseramount than previously., Duringgthe-.actual actuation ofthe bar I-2..the levers I0 `and -.I3 are substantially parallel and'operate asa parallelogrammotion:

When'thefsleevesrorcollars' 2Il"and*'22 mover-*fonv the control rod I'I, the rod I1 flexes to allow for the transverse motion caused by the sleeves or collars moving in an arcuate path.

The roller 8 is retained in contact with the cam 3 by the spring I5, a second spring 2| connected between the lever I3 and the trailer body D returning the lever I3 after actuation by the bar I2.

The roller 8 is in contact with the cam 3 at all times during feed and the amount of feed is controlled by the position of the control rod I1.

A spring operated safety device may be provided to allow the bar I2 to slide without operating the lever I3 against the action of a spring 24 to stop the feed of the chain apron I should this latter become overloaded or frozen to the bottom of the trailer. The safety device comprises a spring controlled plunger 25 engaging a notch 26 in the rod What I claim is:

1. An operating arrangement for a conveyor, comprising in combination, supporting means; a shaft rotatably mounted on said supporting means; first lever means pivotally mounted on said shaft; a first spring means secured at one end to said first lever means and at the other end to said supporting means and urging said first lever means to pivot in one direction; second lever means mounted on said supporting means pivotally about an axis parallel to the axis of said shaft; a second spring means connecting said first lever means and said second lever means and urging said lever means to pivot in said direction; a bar pivoted to said iirst lever means, and extending parallel to a plane passing through the pivoting axes of said lever means; a slide member slidably mounted on said bar and pivoted to said second lever means; a stop means including a coil spring means mounted on said bar connected at one end thereof with said first lever means, and engaging with the other end thereof said slide member when said second lever means is pivoted in the direction opposite to said direction; a rotary cam member mounted on said supporting means and engaging said second lever means, rocking the same; ratchet wheel means nxedly secured to said shaft; a spring-loaded ratchet pawl means pivotally secured to said iirst lever means and engaging said ratchet Wheel means so that said ratchet wheel means and said shaft are intermittently rotated when said first lever means is pivoted in said opposite direction by said slide member and said coil spring means; a control rod mounted on said supporting means; a collar pivoted to said rst lever means and being slidable on said control rod; a stop member fixed cn said control rod and engaging said collar so that operation of said control rod results in pivoting of said first lever means and shifting of said stop means to an adjusted position spaced from said one end of said second lever means resulting in a partly inoperative stroke of said second lever means; and means fixedly secured to said shaft and adapted to transmit the intermittent motion thereof to a conveyor.

2. An operating arrangement for a conveyor, comprising in combination, supporting means; a shaft rotatably mounted on said supporting means; rst lever means pivotally mounted on said shaft; a sleeve member pivoted to said first lever means; a spring-loaded plunger mounted in said sleeve member; a first spring means secured at one end to said first lever means and at the other end to said supporting means and urging said first lever meansto pivotin one direction;

Uitl

4 second lever means mounted on said supporting means pivotally about an axis parallel to the axis of said shaft; a second spring means connecting said first lever means and said second lever means and urging said lever means to pivot in said direction; a bar slidably mounted on said sleeve member and formed with a notch engaged by said plunger, and extending parallel to a plane passing through the pivoting axes of said lever means; a slide member slidably mounted on said bar and pivoted to said second lever means; a stop means including a coil spring means mounted on said bar connected with one end thereof against said sleeve member, and engaging with the other end thereof said slide member when said second lever means is pivoted in the direction opposite to said direction; a rotary cam member mounted on said supporting means and engaging said second lever means, rocking the same; ratchet wheel means fixedly secured to said shaft; a spring-loaded ratchet pawl means pivotally secured to said first lever means and engaging said ratchet Wheel means so that said ratchet wheel means and said shaft are intermittently rotated when said first lever means is pivoted in said opposite direction by said slide member and said coil spring means; a control rod mounted on said supporting means; a collar pivoted to said first lever means and being slidable on said control rod; a stop member fixed on said control rod and engaging said collar so that operation of said control rod results in pivoting of said first lever means and shifting of said stop means to an adjusted position spaced from said one end of said second lever means resulting in a partly inoperative stroke of said second lever means; and means fixedly secured to said shaft and adapted to transmit the intermittent motion thereof to a conveyer.

3. An adjustable operating arrangement for intermittently moving a member comprising, in combination, supporting means; a first and a second lever arm pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof on said supporting means at two spaced pivoting points; a bar pivotally mounted on said first lever arm spaced a fixed distance from the pivoting point of the same, and slidably attached to said second lever arm at a distance from the pivoting point of the same which is equal to said fixed distance; first stop means mounted on said bar and preventing turning of said lever arms toward each other beyond parallel direction thereof; urging means permanently tending to turn said first lever arm toward said second lever arm and said second lever arm away from said first lever arm; rocking means for intermittently turning said second lever arm about its pivoting point against the action of said urging means toward said first lever arm so as to engage said first stop means and to thereby rock said bar and said rst lever arm; second stop means for limiting turning of said first lever arm toward said second lever arm; and means for adjusting said second stop means so as to adjust the maximum angle of turning of said first lever arm toward said second lever arm under action of said urging means.

4. An adjustable operating arrangement for intermittently moving a member comprising, in combination, supporting means; a first and a second lever arm pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof on said supporting means at two spaced pivoting points; a bar pivotally mounted on said first lever arm spaced a fixed distance from the pivoting point of the same, and slidably attached to said second lever arm at a distance fromthe pvotingpoint of the same which is equal to said fixed distance; iirst stop means including a coil spring connected with said first lever arm` and mounted on said bar, said first stop means engaging said second lever arm when said first and said second lever arms are parallel; spring means permanently tending to turn said first lever arm toward said second lever arm and said second lever arm away from said iirst lever arm; cam means for intermittently turning said second lever arm about its pivoting point against the action of said spring means toward said first lever arm soas to engage said first stop means and to thereby rock said bar and said rst lever arm; second stop means for limiting turning of said rst lever arm toward said second lever arm: and control means for adjusting said second stop means to a position in which said iirst lever arm is moved away from said second lever arm and said first stop means is spaced from said second lever arm whereby part of the turning stroke of said second lever arm is inoperative and results in a smaller stroke of said first lever means.

5. An adjustable operating arrangement for intermittently moving a conveyor, comprising, in combination, supporting means, first and second lever means pivotally mounted on said supporting means intermediate the ends of said lever means; a bar pivotally connected to one end of said rst lever means, and being slidably mounted on one end of said second lever means; a stop mounted on said bar for movement with said first lever means and engaging said one end of said second lever means when said iirst and second lever means are parallel; spring means connected to and urging said lever means to turn in one direction; cam means engaging said second lever means and turning the same against the action of said spring means in an opposite direction to engage said stop and to rock said first lever means by means of said bar; a control rod mounted on said supporting means; means pivotally securing said rst lever means to said control rod so that shifting of said control rod results in pivoting of said iirst lever means and shiftingv of said stop to an adjusted position spaced from said one end of said second lever means, resulting in a partly inoperative stroke of said second lever means and in a smaller stroke of said nrst lever means; and means connected to said first lever means and adapted to transmit the intermittent movement of the same to a conveyor.

6. An adjustable operating arrangement for intermittently moving a conveyor, comprising, in combination, supporting means, first and second lever means pivotally mounted on said supporting means intermediate the ends of said lever means; a bar pivotally connected to one end of said first lever means, and being slidably mounted on one end of said second lever means; a stop mounted on said bar for movement with said rst lever means and engaging said one end of said second lever means when said rst and second lever means are parallel; spring means connected to and urging said lever means to turn in one direction; cam means engaging said second lever means and turning the same against the action of said spring means in an opposite direction to engage said stop and to rock said first lever means by means of said bar; a control rod mounted on said supporting means; a collar pivoted to said first lever means and being slidable on said control rod; and a stop member fixed on said control rod and engaging said collar so that shifting of said control rod results in pivoting of said first lever means and shifting of said stop to an adjusted position spaced from said one end of said second lever means, resulting in a partly inoperative stroke of said second lever means and in a smaller stroke of said first lever means; and means connected to said first lever means and adapted to transmit the intermittent movement of the same to a conveyor.

FRANCIS LEE.

References Cited` in the ille 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,383,619 Gray July 5, 1921 1,392,720 Synck et al Oct. 4, 1921 1,843,431 Neighbor Feb. 2, 1932 1,945,125 Swanson et al Jan. 30, 1934 2,051,885 Neighbor Aug. 25, 1936 2,378,676 Ambruster June 19, 1945 2,486,214 Seaholm Oct. 25, 1949 Y 2,561,755 Recker July 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 585,945 France Dec. 19, 1924 

